FROM THE SHARI TO THE UBANGUI 219 



distribution of African birds is so wide that one soon comes 

 to the end of the species. 



There are no inhabitants upon the hills, but the surround- 

 ing country is peopled by the N'dicongo cannibals, a tribe 

 of the Banda race. Both men and women are great smokers ; 

 they paint their bodies all over with a rich copper red which 

 the women pound out of the bark of a tree. It is only on 

 certain occasions, however, that the entire body is painted, 

 such as when a man goes to choose or buy a wife. Besides 

 the pelele and other Banda adornments, the women wear 

 a metal spike 4 or 5 in. long which hangs down from the 

 lower lip. 



Each village is independent and ruled by a chef who is 

 the strongest and most unscrupulous man of the community. 

 If a native wander away too far in the bush he is likely to 

 fall into the hands of the next-door neighbours, who seize 

 him for a slave, or if they cannot catch him alive, kill him like 

 a beast and eat him. When a chief dies, a general uproar is 

 made in the village, and all his wives are killed and buried 

 with him. But in the case of a headman, the body is buried 

 upon a living bier of half the number of his wives to the 

 accompaniment of music and dancing. 



Salt, beads, and cloth went well amongst these people. 



On August 23 I returned to Krebeje, where Jose had 

 in the meantime put the boats together and made 

 all ready for a start down the River Tomi. By now the 

 "boys" had become very handy, and one boat was joined 

 up and put on the water within three hours. The next 

 day we left for Kemmo, where [I had arranged to meet 

 Gosling. 



